Two High School Athletesâ€™ Journey from Armenia to America

Two High School Athletes’ Journey from Armenia to America

By Robert Solomon

OCEANPORT – Richie and Meli Pekmezian are both high school seniors and successful athletes. Richie plays football and is an outstanding kicker at Mater Dei Prep. He is also thinking about rejoining the baseball team in the spring. Meli is a four-year member of the varsity soccer team and is an outstanding midfielder at Shore Regional High School. She also enjoys participating in the ski club. However, 18 years ago these success stories could not have been foreseen.

They were both born in Armenia several days and miles apart in late November 2001. By chance, they were put up for adoption on the same day at the same orphanage, Nork Marash Children's Orphanage in the Armenian capital of Yerevan. In January 2002, the Pekmezians, an Armenian-American couple living in New Jersey, traveled to that very same orphanage, ironically, in search of two infants to adopt – a boy and a girl. Sixty-two days and five flights later, the new family arrived at JFK Airport and their final leg of their journey home to Oceanport.

Richie and Meli learned about their adoption at a very early age, but it wasn’t until about third grade when they both started to understand it. “I grew up hearing about it and knowing it,” said Meli. “We did not really have a sit-down. It was constantly present in the household,” she added. Richie explained that he remembers hearing about it as soon as he was able to understand it.

Both children had different perspectives about their adoption story. “It was pretty cool. Most of my friends were born locally and I was the only one that wasn’t,” explained Richie.

Meli said, “I thought it was very interesting. I wanted to learn more and know more about what it meant to be adopted.”

Their knowledge of Armenia is similar, as they both attended Sunday school at the Armenian Church in Elberon where they learned about their birth country from their teachers. They were also told numerous stories by family members. Meli explained that they have many family members living in the area, including their grandparents and aunts and uncles.

Of course their parents were also a major source of information, especially about their adoption journey. Richie stated, “Yes, my parents told us the story a couple of times. It wasn’t a quick process.” He continued, “It was a life-changing experience for all of us. I don’t know a lot of parents that would go around the world to adopt the kids of the same ethnicity.”

“They told us story after story. Everyone knows the story,” explained Meli. “I was intrigued. I thought it was so interesting. I always wanted to hear the story,” she added.

Neither of the kids has been to Armenia, but both plan to visit in the future. “It’s on my bucket list,” exclaimed Richie.

Growing up in Armenia is very different than growing up in America. “I probably would be in the army now,” said Richie. “Every Armenian boy goes into the armed forces,” he said. Richie even mentioned that he was told that when he was adopted the Armenians at the orphanage made a comment that his parents were taking away one of their soldiers.

Meli would probably not have gotten involved in sports at all. “I don’t think girls play sports in Armenia,” she said. It is probably accurate as “women and girls in many regions are not encouraged to take part in sports or other cultural activities. Because of this, girls teams do not typically have the same access to equipment that boys teams do,” according to oneworldplayproject.com.

Except for the occasional friendly joke, Richie and Meli are not treated differently by their friends, classmates and teammates. They both have never felt out of place in the United States. Their dad, Rich Pekmezian, explained that the U.S. government provides foreign adopted children full rights as soon as “the wheels touch ground,” although the parents must pursue all necessary paperwork.

Sports have been a big part of both of their lives. “I started sports as soon as I could walk,” said Meli. She participated in several sports, including tennis, basketball, golf, softball and skiing, before finally settling on soccer in high school.

“I started as soon as I was able,” said Richie. “I was involved in all sports to be exposed to many sports. I played football when I was younger, left, then came back to it.”

One thing they strongly agree on is the impact their dad has had on their success in sports. “I really think it starts with my dad,” said Richie. “He was a college athlete and coached me in baseball. I spent every day on the fields and my dad always pushed me to succeed.” Richie also credits Mater Dei football coach Dino Mangiero. “Coach Dino has been a great inspiration to me,” Richie stated.

When asked what contributed to her sports success Meli explained, “My dad 110%.” “He is the reason I am the soccer player I am today. He trained me and coached me my entire life.” She also acknowledges the help of her high school soccer coaches. “They are outstanding and the best coaches. They helped me with my confidence and growth as a player and a person.”

They both do well in school and are planning to play sports in college, although their plans are different. Richie wants to play football as a kicker and is being recruited by numerous schools including Western Colorado, Kutztown, Western Oregon and Villanova, to name a few. “It is a matter of where not if,” stated Richie.

Although she has been approached by several schools to play soccer, Meli is considering starting at a community college playing soccer and then get recruited to a four-year college. “I plan on studying business and marketing or personal training,” she said.

Both of them feel extremely thankful for their journey. “I am beyond thankful,” said Meli. “Being adopted has given me opportunity after opportunity. I have been handed a life that a lot of Armenian kids would not have. I am so fortunate.”

“I am so thankful because not a lot of people know about Armenia and I want to go back and visit the orphanage I was adopted from to thank them for getting me adopted and having a better life in America,” Richie explained. He added that the orphanage had the option not to put him up for adoption.

Richie also explained how thankful he is for the other opportunities offered to him growing up in America. “I am extremely thankful that both of my high schools are phenomenal. They have great caring teachers. Not a lot of countries have the same school system as in America,” he said.

He is also thankful for his sports opportunities. “Kicking is what I hang my hat on and without it I am just an Average Joe,” he claimed. Although, there is nothing average about this young man. “I am thankful not just for playing sports but being on the team and making friends which is also important.”

Meli said that she is thankful for many things, especially the education she has received growing up in America. “I don’t think I would have as many opportunities in sports and education in Armenia,” she said. “Schooling from pre-school to high school has given me a great education here,” she added.

November is National Adoption Month. Richie and Meli are great examples of how adoption can change lives. As they continue their journey as Armenian-Americans, they are proud and thankful for their birth country and their adopted country.